history e9y

What was the Spanish Armada?

A 130-strong Spanish fleet sent by King Philip II in 1588 to invade England, overthrow Queen Elizabeth I, and restore Catholic rule.

Why did it happen?

Religion: Philip II wanted to reverse the English Reformation.Piracy: English privateers (like Sir Francis Drake) continuously raided Spanish ships.Politics: England supported the Dutch Republic’s rebellion against Spain.

What was the Spanish plan?

To sail through the English Channel to Flanders, meet the Duke of Parma’s army, and transport an invasion force to the English coast.

How was the fleet defeated?

Superior English tactics (maneuverable ships, long-range cannons), fire ships at Calais, and devastating storms.

What was the Battle of Gravelines?

The major naval engagement where the scattered Spanish fleet was heavily battered by English cannons.

What was the Triangular Slave Trade?

A three-stage trade route operating from the 16th to 19th centuries connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

What was traded in each stage?

1. European manufactured goods (guns, cloth) to Africa. 2. Enslaved Africans to the Americas. 3. Raw materials (sugar, tobacco) back to Europe.

What was the "Middle Passage"?

The horrific second leg of the journey across the Atlantic where enslaved people faced brutal conditions and high mortality.

What was the economic impact?

It generated immense wealth for European nations but caused human devastation and social destruction in Africa.

What was "Leg 1: The Outward Passage"?

Ships from ports like Liverpool and Nantes traded manufactured goods for captive people in Africa.

Leg 2: The Middle Passage

The forced transport of enslaved Africans to the Americas; approximately 2 million died during the journey.

Leg 3: The Homeward Passage

Merchants used the profit of enslaved people to purchase raw materials.

Negative Impacts on India

Severe economic exploitation and devastating famines.

Administrative Changes

The establishment of a unified administration, modern infrastructure, and legal systems.

Daily Conditions

Soldiers faced flooded ditches, oversized rats, and constant psychological trauma.